Keyboard cover



Sept. 6, 1949.

P. M. FULLER KEYBOARD COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 ENTOR.

I wmm p 1949. P. M. FULLER 2,481,168

KEYBOARD COVER Filed NOV. 29 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 lllIgNTOR.

BY 47% & gin

Patented Sept. 6 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Rudolph Wanda. N. Y.,

urlitzer Company, -North Tonaa corporation of Ohio Application November 29, 1946, seri l No; 712,928 11 Claims; (01. 84-1711) The present invention relates in general to musical instrument cabinets, and in particular to cabinets having covers for the keyboards of musical instruments housed therein.

Console type musical instruments of the kind to which the present inventio'r'i relates are (3115- tomarily provided with means for covering the keyboard when the" instrument is not in use. The covers generally provided consist of a number of panels which are; hinged to each other and to the cabinet so as to permit them to be folded on each other to uncover the keyboard when the instrument is being played. Such covers are awkward to open and close; particularly in the case of an instrument such as an organ having a plurality of manual keyboards.- and they present a constant hazard of pinched fingers. Moreover, they are relatively difficult and expensive" to construct, principally due' to the long' length of the hinges needed to joiri'th'e individual panels; which hinges must be accurately made of heavy material to avoid binding" due to on which they pivot.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved keyboard cover for a musical instrument cabinetwhich overcomes the objections to the hihged-type of cove'rs heretofore used.

More specific objectslof the invention are to provide an iihproved'ke'yboard cover that is simple and inexpensiveto" construct, which presents an attractive, smo th appearance when closed with no hinges or like devices t'ointerrupt the continuity of its visiblesurface; thereby enhancing the esthet'ic' appeal of the cabinet and facilitating dusting and polishing thereof, and" which" is inconspicuous when in open position, does not en'- danger the niusiciaris' fingers" during opening closing, and is substantially self-balancing throughout its movement whereby it may be opened and closed with very slight effort;

One of the features of the improved keyboard cover is the novelconstruction thereof which enables it to be detached from the cabinet upon the removal of only two screws. Such removal of the cover is oftentimes desirable during adjustment or repair of the instrument keyboard mechanism;

Theabove and; other objects and features of the invention will be more fully understood-upona perusal of the'foll'owing specification; taken-in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; wherein:

Fig. 1' isa perspective view ofan organ having a keyboard cover constructed inaccordan'cewith rion lihe'arity of the air'e's" 2 the principles of the invention, the cover being shown in partially closed position; Y Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the cover and the associated front panel of the cabinet when the cover is fully closed;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, taken through the cover mounting along the line 3-3 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the cabinet, taken along the line 4 -4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 4, but with the cover shown in its open position; and I Fig. 6 is a partially diagrammatic sectional view of a cabinet having a modified form of keyboard cover.

The organ shown in Fig. 1, which is illustrative of the invention, is housed in a cabinet In of the console type; Manual keyboards l4 and I 6 are supported on a base or keybed l2 in any suitable manner. A row of stop tablets 20 (Fig. ihp'rojects from a vertical panel or nameboard ta disposed to the rear of the keyboards; as is customary in organ structures. A music rack 22 extends forwardly of the panel it near the top thereof. The cover 26, which is the specific subject of the present invention, passes through the panel I8' and is adapted to extend over the keyboards l4 and I 6.

In accordance with the present invention, the cover 26 is supported within the cabinet I O'in such manner as to permit compound motion of the cover into the closed position'thereof shown in- Fig. 4, or into the open position thereof substantially flush with the forward surface of the. panel I8, as illustrated in- Fig. 5. The cover 26 includes'a' curvedpanel 28' and'a pair of end walls 30. A cover panel 28 having a surface of revolwtion disposed about an axis extending longitudinally of the keyboards has been shown as the preferred form, although it should that covers of other shapes'may be employed; as will be apparent from the following description. When the organ is not in use; the cover 26 rests on the keybed l2 with the rear edge of the cover lying in an inverted U-shapedslot 32 provided in the nameboard 18.

A pair of supporting arms 34, Figs. 2 and 4',- is secured to the cover 26 along the lower edges of the end walls'30 thereof, these arms extending into thecabinet l0; Each-of the arms- 34' i'sipive,

oted at'itsextrem-ity to one of a pair of'links"36,--

be understood rollers 48, Figs. 3 and 4, journaled on studs 53 carried by the arms 34.

To open the cover 26, it is grasped along the V foremost edge and given a combined lifting and pushing movement. It will be noted that the keybed I2 is recessed along a substantial portion of its length, as shown in Fig. l, to facilitate gripping the cover along its foremost edge when it is to be opened and to prevent pinching of the musicians fingers when the cover is closed. Initially the application of upward force to the edge of the cover 26 serves to swing the arms 34, Fig. 4, about the rollers 48 as fulcrums, pushing the links 36 downwardly. Each slot 46 has a center of curvaturelocated preferably in the plane of the front wall of panel 13 a short distance above thecover 26. The rollers X8 ride along these slots 46 as the cover 26 is retracted, eventually being arrested by engaging the rear ends of the slots 36. The cover 26 then is in its fully open positionas indicated in full lines in Fig. 5. Intermediate positions of the cover 26 are indicated by broken lines in Fig. 5. The compound motion of the cover 26 is such that all elements of the surface of panel 28 pass through substantially the same line disposed in the gap 32 in the a panel 13, despite the fact that the pivot points of the arms 34 continually shift rearwardly. This serves to minimize the required width of gap 32.

From. the broken-line representations shown inFig. 5 it should be apparent that the center of gravity of the cover 26 is located almost directly above the rollers 68 during the greater portion of the. cover movement. This self-balancing arrangement enables the cover to be moved with a minimum of effort. When the cover 26 is in its fully-closed or fully opened position, Fig. 4 or 5, respectively,'the center of. gravity of the cover is sufficiently displaced laterally from the rollers 48 to hold the cover 26 securely in either of these limiting positions.

To close the cover, it is grasped along its foremost edge, which is provided with an inwardly extending ridge 56 formin a finger grip, and is drawn forwardly and down. If desired, the nameboard 18 may be recessed as indicated at 58, Figs. i and 5, along the lower front edge of the horizontally extending'slot 32 therein to facilitate gripping the cover 26 when it is to be closed and to avoid any danger of pinching the musicians fingers when it is opened.

In certain instances, as during repair or adjustment of the instrument mechanism, it may be desirable to completel remove the cover 26 from the cabinet Ill. To facilitate such removal of the cover, the arms 35 are secured thereto in a novel manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Thus, the end walls 38 of the cover are provided with rabbets 66 which extend along the lower edges thereof. Metal strips 62 are recessed in and are secured to the undersides of the end walls 36 by screws, such as 64. These strips extend beneath the rabbets 66 to form grooves adapted to receive studs, such as 66, attached to the arms 34'. The portions of arms 34 which adjoin the end walls 30 are of L-shaped cross section and are recessed in and rigidly secured to the end walls by screws 68.

To remove the cover, the two screws 68 are removed while the cover is in the open position. The cover is then closed and is drawn laterally from the cabinet. During the latter movement, the studs 63 become disengaged from the grooves formed in the end walls of the cover, which grooves are open at the rear of the end walls.

It has been noted previously that the cover need not be in the form of a solid of revolution. One example of a different form of cover has been shown in Fig. 6. In this case a cover 26a having a cross-section which is part of an ellipse has been illustrated. This form of cover is particularly suited for use with a single keyboard instrument. The same principles are involved as for the previous embodiment, although the shape of the slots 46a in the guide plates 46a. is altered considerably due to the more complex motion necessary to cause the surface portions of cover 26a to pass through the same part of the slot in the panel l'8a.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a keyboard cover having numerous advantageous features. For instance, the cover is of simple and economical construction free from the complications of hinged joints; it is selfbalancing throughout its movement so that it will not suddenly collapse if the operators fingers slip; it presents an attractive appearance when closed and is inconspicuous when open; .it may be raised and lowered by a single movement of one hand instead or several involving both hands; it requires no appreciable effort for its operation, and it eliminates the likelihood of pinching the operators fingers. By proper selection of the pivot locations and lengths of the supporting arms 34 and links 36, as well as the shape of the arcuate slots 46 and the cover 26, the cover may be caused to follow any desired path in its movement so as to avoid any possible obstacles in the organ.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiments set forth for purposes of illustration without departing from the spirit of the invention.v The invention is accordingly not to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a musical instrument including a keyboard and a Vertical panel disposed rearwardly of said keyboard, said vertical'panel having a horizontally extending slot therein spaced above said keyboard, a shiftable keyboard cover comprising a unitaryrigid panel extending lengthwise of the keyboard, and supporting means for said cover, said supporting means guiding said cover panel upon shifting thereof with a compound pivotal and lateral motion through the slot in said vertical panel.

2. In a musical instrument having a keyboard and .a vertical panel disposed rearwardly of the keyboard, said vertical panel having a horizontally extending slot therein's paced above the keyboard, a shiftable keyboard cover including a unitary panel extending lengthwise of the keyboard and being of curved shape in transverse section, and supporting devices for said cover respectively disposed at opposite ends of the keyboard, said devices guiding said cover panel upon shifting thereof with a compound pivotal and lateral motion through the horizontal slot in said vertical panel.

3. In a musicaliinstrumeritihaving a keyboard .anda vertical .panel disposed rearwardly of the keyboard, said vertical panellhaving .a hori'zontally extending slot therein spaced above "the keyboard, -a movable ke-yboard cover including a unitanymanel extending lengthwise of the keyboard :and being of curved shape in transverse section, and supporting devices for said cover respectively disposed at oppositelends of thakeyboard, said devices including supporting arms rigidly fixed to and extending 'rearwardly from the .ends of said cover, andguide meansiengaging spaced points on eachof said arms collectively guiding said cover panel through said horizontal slot in the vertical panel as said cover is moved between its closed and open positions.

4. In a musical instrument having a keyboard and a vertical panel disposed rearwardly of the keyboard, said vertical panel having a horizontally extending ledge therein spaced above the keyboard, a movable keyboard cover including a unitary panel extending lengthwise of the keyboard in juxtaposition to said ledge and being of curved shape in transverse section, and supporting devices for said cover respectively disposed at opposite ends of the keyboard, said devices including supporting arms rigidly fixed to and extending rearwardly from the ends of said cover, each of said arms having first and second pivot points thereon, first guide means cooperating with said arms guiding said first pivot points along predetermined paths, and second guide means cooperating with said arms guiding said second pivot points along other predetermined paths, said guide means maintaining the center of gravity of said cover substantially vertically aligned with said first pivot points throughout the greater portion of the movement of said cover between its open and closed positions.

5. In a musical instrument including a keyboard, a horizontal base for said keyboard, and a vertical panel disposed rearwardly oi the keyboard, said vertical panel having a horizontally extending slot spaced above the keyboard, a shiftable keyboard cover comprising a unitary panel extending lengthwise of the keyboard and being of curved shape in transverse section, said base being recessed to facilitate ripping the forward edge of said cover panel when said cover is in closed position, and supporting devices for said cover respectively disposed at opposite ends thereof guiding said cover panel upon shifting thereof through the horizontal slot in said vertical panel with a compound pivotal and lateral motion, the forward edge of said cover panel being substantially flush with said vertical panel when said cover is in open position.

6. In a musical instrument having a keyboard, a keyboard cover extending lengthwise of the keyboard, end walls on said keyboard cover, arms extending from said end walls, and supporting members pivotally connected to each of said arms at a plurality of points on such arm, said arms and said supporting members being arranged for movement relative to each other whereby the center of gravity of said cover is maintained substantially in vertical alignment with one of said pivot points on each arm during the greater portion of the travel of said cover between its open and closed positions.

'7. In a musical instrument having a keyboard and a horizontal base for the keyboard, a key-- board cover extending lengthwise of the keyboard, end walls on said keyboard cover, arms extending from said end walls, rollers on said arms, fixed center of gravitytof-said cover'is'maintained substantially in vertical alignment with said rollers during the greater part of the travel :of said rollers in said slots.

'8. In a musical instrument having a keyboard and a vertical -,paneledisposed rearwardly of the keyboard, a -keyboard cover including a unitary panel extending lengthwise of the keyboard and being of curved shape in transverse section, end Walls on said keyboard cover, said vertical panel having a slot formed therein for receiving said cover, arms extending from said end walls, rollers mounted on said arms, vertical guide plates respectively disposed adjacent said arms and having curved slots therein to receive said rollers for guiding the movement thereof when said cover is in motion, and links pivotally connected to said arms and to stationary portions of the musical instrument for relating the travel of said rollers in said guide slots to the angular position of said cover, whereby the center of gravity of said cover is maintained substantially in vertical alignment with said rollers during the greater part of the travel of said cover while being guided through the slot in said vertical panel.

9. In a musical instrument having a keyboard and a vertical panel disposed rearwardly of the keyboard, a keyboard cover including a unitary panel extending lengthwise of the keyboard and being of curved shape in transverse section, and vertical end walls disposed at opposite ends of said cover panel, said vertical panel having an inverted U-shaped slot therein for permitting passage of said cover through the vertical panel, arms respectively extending rearwardly from said end walls, studs projecting from said arms, said end Walls having grooves formed therein to receive said studs, detachable means securing said arms respectively to said end walls, and. means coacting with said arms to guide said cover through the slot in said vertical panel as said cover is moved between its open and closed positions.

10. In a musical instrument having a keyboard and a Vertical panel disposed rearwardly of the keyboard, a keyboard cover including a unitary panel extending lengthwise of the keyboard and being of curved shape in transverse section, and vertical end walls disposed at opposite ends of said cover panel, said vertical panel having an inverted U-shaped slot therein for permitting passage of said cover through the vertical panel, arms respectively extending rearwardly from said end walls, studs projecting from said arms, said end walls being provided with rabbets formed therein along the edges thereof which are lowermost when the cover is in closed position, strips recessed into said lowermost edges of said end walls and disposed in overlapping relation to said rabbets to define grooves in said end walls for receiving said studs, said arms having flanges disposed along and recessed into the lowermost edges of said end walls adjacent said strips, detachable means securing said strips and said arm flanges to said lowermost edges of said end walls, and means coacting with said arms to guide said cover through the slot in said vertical panel as said cover is moved between its open and closed positions.

7 11. In a musical instrumentincluding a key- REFERENCES CITED board and Vertical panel disposed rearwardly The following references are of record in the of said keyboard, said panel having an inverted file of this when? 'U-shaped slot therein, a shiftable keyboard cover comprising a unitary rigid structure having a 5 UNITED STATES PATEN S horizontal panel disposed within the horizontal Number Name Date po tion of said slot and a pair of end panels dis- 196,970 Titus Aug. 30, 1370 posed within the vertical portions of said slot, 144,167 Trowbfidge Oct 28 1873 and supporting mean for said cover, said support- 10 204,131 Carpenter May 28, 1878 ing means guiding said cover upon shifting thereof with a compound pivotal and lateral motion FOREIGN PATENTS through the slot in said vertical panel. Number Country Date PAUL M. FULLER. 490,887 Great Britain Aug. 23, 1938 

